YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED
Jenna Worsham
Today’s Scripture: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12, ESV
Theme: Seek God (who knows the number of your days) so that you can wisely plan your time but not obsess or worry.
NUMBER OUR DAYS
Maybe I have another forty years to live, give or take? What I don’t have is forever. Actually, that’s not true, we do have forever! This period of life is short compared to our hope of life beyond the grave. Does numbering our days mean to count the ones until we die or to keep in mind that, with God, we have an abundance of time? I always thought that this verse meant to count out the days and fill them well. Today, I hear a whisper that the days aren’t numbered because that’s all there is. There really is meaningful life after death for those who accept Jesus. The missed opportunities today aren’t all missed, either; we can do some of them later (travel, create, relax, climb, explore, hang out with friends, ask questions). Yet, what can I do now that I won’t be able to do in eternity? Share Jesus, train my family to follow Him, encourage others to do the same. These are the things I need to spend my time on while I still live and breathe.
SEEK GOD’S PLAN FOR YOUR DAYS
God knows how many days each of us have before judgement, death, and new life. He has a good plan for every one of those days if we’re willing to allow His work to be done in our lives. If you don’t know God, or value His input, I know exactly what His plan for you is today: Look for Him. He wants you to find Him before it’s too late. That’s the top priority. God told His chosen people, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13, ESV). If you are already doing your best to follow God, let Him help you declutter your days.
LONG GAME
Jeremiah was a prophet to God’s people during a period where the Israelites were exiled in Babylon. Their lives were hard. The letter Jeremiah sent was to the “surviving elders of the exiles” (Jeremiah 29:1), which indicates there were some who didn’t survive. The people were oppressed. They did not have much influence or freedom, yet God sent them instructions for living a long time under the rule of Babylon. “Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:5-7, ESV). God’s plan for His people in exile was to live ordinary lives that contributed to the welfare of the city where they lived. This advice is general enough that it seems applicable to anyone living in a temporary situation, like us, who are “not of this world” (John 17:14).
OBSESS OR WORRY
God has plans. Planning is not a sin. However, if I am too loyal to my own plans, I can end up elevating them to an idol. If I then obsess or worry, those plans cause me to sin. God knows how much time I have. God knows what I set up and planned with good intentions, and He might change it or have another plan that I don’t know about yet. This is why I need to seek Him when I number my days and hold my expectations with an open hand. Then, after seeking Him and adjusting my perspective, God will give me a heart of wisdom. God doesn’t promise us productivity, success, fame, travel or affluence. He promises to teach us and provide wisdom.
Make It Personal: How can you declutter your day(s)? Have you made time to seek God on the subject of your schedule and plans? Do you think “teach me to number my days” refers to realizing that our days are limited or unlimited? Why do you have that perspective?
Pray: Father, thank You that the “evil” days are limited and that our actual days with You are unlimited. Help me live with less stress over what I may accomplish or experience in this life. Help me focus instead on the things I can only do now – before heaven is here and You make all things new. I think if I was more expectant of heaven, I’d have less concern over fitting in everything else. Thank You for teaching me today. Amen
Read: Jeremiah 29:1-14
Weekly Memory Verse: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV